Trump trial: Cohen faces Trump team grilling over past lies, recollections
The defense questioned Trump's former lawyer on Day 18 of the hush money trial.
Former President Donald Trump is on trial in New York City, where he is facing felony charges related to a 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. It marks the first time in history that a former U.S. president has been tried on criminal charges.
Trump last April pleaded not guilty to a 34-count indictment charging him with falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment his then-attorney Michael Cohen made to Daniels in order to boost his electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election.
Top headlines:
- No decision yet about Trump testifying
- Defense argues Cohen's lack of retainer agreement was not an issue
- Defense accuses Cohen of lying about Trump phone call
- Defense challenges Cohen on past perjury
- Cohen says Trump approved payment of $420K, paid monthly
- Jury hears secret recording of Trump discussing payment
What to know about the hush money case
READ MORE: Here's what you need to know about the historic case.
Defense presses Cohen on TikTok, pointing to ABC News coverage
Defense attorney Todd Blanche homed in on Michael Cohen's use of TikTok, referring to ABC News' initial coverage in his questioning.
He accused Cohen of using it as an outlet to "make money."
Cohen responded that he uses it to "build an audience."
"What's the goal of doing that?" Blanche asked,
"Build an audience, create a community," Cohen responded. "To really vent because I'm having a difficult time sleeping. So I found an outlet."
"You are also hoping to make money on that?" Blanche asked.
"I do make money on that, but it's not significant," Cohen said.
"One of the reasons you do it is to make money?" Blanche later asked.
"Yes," Cohen said.
Cohen also conceded that he mentions Trump on most if not all of his TikTok streams.
Cohen admits DA asked him not to discuss case
Defense attorney Todd Blanche tried to get Cohen to admit that the Manhattan district attorney's office advised him to stop making media appearances in March 2023 because he was "unwittingly helping President Trump by going on TV."
Cohen repeatedly testified that he could not recall such a conversation, prompting Blanche to question how Cohen could vividly recall conversations with Donald Trump in 2016.
Cohen subsequently conceded that the DA's office advised him approximately five times not to talk about the case.
Blanche, highlighting how often Cohen has publicly spoken about the case, including on television appearances and podcasts, asked, "It's more than 200, correct?"
"Yes," Cohen responded.
"Would you agree that you have talked about President Trump in every single one?" Blanched asked.
"I would say he's mentioned in every single one," Cohen said.
Defense asks Cohen if he leaked info about the case
Defense attorney Todd Blanche asked Michael Cohen if he leaked information about the DA's investigation into the Stormy Daniels payment, or discussed the case in detail during television appearances in February 2021, despite promising his lawyer he would no longer comment on the case.
"You were going on TV talking about the investigation?" Blanche asked.
"I go on TV often so I am not sure what the topic was," Cohen said.
"Would it surprise you to learn that you were on TV talking about the investigation in February 2021?" Blanche asked.
"No, it does not surprise me," Cohen said.
The jury is seeing a slightly more defensive and combative witness than the Michael Cohen they saw on direct examination.
Defense questions Cohen about disparaging Trump
Restarting his cross-examination, defense attorney Todd Blanche asked Michael Cohen if he had been following the progress of the trial.
"I have made comments about the jury selection," Cohen said.
"On April 23, so after the trial started, you said that you had actually heard what a witness had testified about?" Blanche asked.
"Possible yes," Cohen replied.
"Do you recall saying on TikTok on April 23 and that's when Mr. Pecker was still on the stand that from everything you have heard David Pecker has corroborated everything you have been saying for six years?" Blanche asked.
"Somebody called me and told me that Mr. Pecker had corroborated what I'd been saying for a long time," Cohen said.
Under questioning, Cohen conceded that, while the trial has been ongoing, he has said disparaging things about former President Trump.
"You referred to President Trump as a dictator douche bag, didn't you?" Blanche asked.
"Sounds like something I said," Cohen answered.
Blanche asked Cohen if he commented that Donald Trump belongs in a "little cage ... like a f------ animal."
"I recall saying that," Cohen said.
Trump, at the defense table, has been leaning back in his chair and listening with his eyes closed.
Defense accuses Cohen of lying about Trump phone call
Defense attorney Todd Blanche accused Michael Cohen of lying about a phone call Cohen testified he had with Donald Trump on Oct. 24, 2016.
Blanche read texts between Cohen and Trump aide Keith Schiller on that date, in which Cohen asked Schiller, "Who can I speak to about harassing calls to my phone and office?"
According to Blanche, Schiller asked Cohen to call him at 8:02 p.m.
"This is the call that you testified about on Tuesday that you had a conversation with President Trump?" Blanche said.
Cohen, who testified on Tuesday that he had called Schiller to speak with Trump, agreed.
Nearly shouting, Blanche alleged that Cohen lied during his testimony on Tuesday.
"That was a lie," said Blanche, adding that Cohen texted Schiller the phone number of the 14-year-old prank caller at 8:04 p.m.
"Part of it was the 14-year-old, but I knew that Keith was with Trump at the time," Cohen responded.
"That was a lie. You did not talk to President Trump that night," Blanche said, raising his voice. "You can admit it."
"No sir, I can't," Cohen said. "Because I'm not sure that's accurate."
"This jury doesn't want to hear what you think happened," Blanche said.
Trump, at the defense table, appeared engaged and furrowed his eyebrows.
The jury was then shown text messages from that evening between Cohen and Schiller, which Blanche suggested prosecutors omitted from their exhibit.
"Mr. Cohen, you just said that you don't recall a phone call ... on Tuesday you testified that you remembered the phone call," Blanche shouted, again growing animated and speaking quickly.
Cohen stood by his testimony, saying he spoke to both Trump and Schiller.
"Based upon what was going on and based upon the other messages regarding the Stormy Daniels matter, yes I believe I was telling the truth," Cohen said.
Judge Merchan subsequently recessed the court for lunch.